Railway switch and signal apparatus.



H. G. WILLIAMS. RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS.

* APPLICATION P ILBI) NOV. 12, 1906. 91 9,275.

Patnted Apr/20, 1909.

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RAILWAY SWITGH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION rum) NOV.12, me.

919 ,275. Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

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H. G. WILLIAMS. RAILWAY swnon AND SIGNAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12, 1908.

, Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 W/nassas hvenfor UNITED STATES PATENT onnion HIRAM G. WILLIAMS, OF UTIOA.,NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESN E ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-THIRD TO FRANCIS B. HARRINGTON, OF MENANDS, NEW YORK, AND ONE IHIRD TO STEPHEN R. PAYNE, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 20, 1909.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HIRAM O. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residingat the city of Utica, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Switch and Signal Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to railway switch and signal apparatus, and the objects of my invention are 1st: To provide a railway switch and signal operating mechanism, whereby the signal must indicate stop before the switch can be opened, and after the switch has been opened the signal cannot be changed until the switch has been closed. 2nd: A means for positively and securely locking the switch both in the open and closed positions. 3rd: A means for adjusting the extent of throw of the switch rod. Together with such other elements and combinations as are hereinafter more particularly set forth and claimed. I attain these objects by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my invention attached to a railway switch. Fig. 2 is a plan, with parts broken away. Fig. 3 is an elevation. Fig. 4 is a view of the adjusting plates. Fig. 5 is a perspective of a modified form of my invention.

Similar characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

It is very desirable in railway service to provide a switch with a signal operated in connection therewith, whereby the danger or stop signal must be set before the switch is opened, and when set in this position so constructed that the signal cannot be changed to clear until the switch has been closed and the points of the switch locked, making the track safe. This does away with any liability of having the signal show a clear track when the switch is open.

Referring to the drawings, to the switch rail, A, I connect the switch rod, B, in any suitable manner, which rod is secured at or near its end farthest from the switch rail to the block, B, placed within the lever, C. The end of the lever,-C, being preferably slotted and adapted to receive the block, B, also one or more plates, I), which plates are for the purpose of regulating the position of the block, within the said slotted open- Iing. The plates are preferably slotted at their ends to enable the slotted ends of the lever, C, to pass there through and hold the plates in position on the lever. The block,

is also preferably slotted in the same mannor as the plates and for like pur ose. I preferably arrange on the end of t e lever, C, a catch, E, which may be pivoted at one end as at, e, and held in position when closed by a bolt, E, as shown in Fig. 2. The pivoted catch, E, may be opened to allow for the removal of the block, B, and the insertion or removal of plates, D, for the purpose of regulating the extent of the throw of the rod,

referably slotted, as at F, in order that the ever may be turned end for end when desired. The lever, C, is fulerumed at G, and carries the alligator jaws, H, H.

Suitably mounted within the frame, K, I place the shaft, L, to which is keyed the handle lever, M, and loosely mounted upon shaft L I preferably place the signal lever, N. On said signal lever, N, or secured thereto in any suitable manner, I place the wheel, a, to which are secured the signal operating wires, m, m. The shaft, L, also carries the arm, 0, projecting from one side of the shaft, and having at the extremity of said arm 0, preferably, a roller P and at the opposite end of said arm preferably a hook 20. The arm,

operate the alligator jaws, H, in the following manner: The rotation of the shaft, L, causing the roller, P, to engage one of the projections, H, forming the jaws, aforesaid, and to travel downward along said projection. The operating edge of said projections are spirally inclined, so that as the roller, P, descends the jaw is given a rotary movement about G, the fulcrum of the lever, C, to which it is attached, as a center, whereby the lever, C, is moved in a horizontal plane. At the bottom of the jaws, H, I preferably arrange a pit or pocket, h, as shown in Fig. 3, and when the roller, P, occupies the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, that is, coincides with the pocket, 71, the lever, C, will be moved to occupy a posisition substantially at right angles to the shaft, L, and the rod, B, will have been nection with either track. As the arm, 0,

B. The opposite end of the lever, C, is also O, and roller, P, being placed in position to moved so that the switch rail is out of con is further rotated the roller, P, ascends one.

of the projecting jaw pieces, H, on the side opposite from that which it operated upon first, and continues to force the jaw about the center, G, and thereby causes the lever, C, and rod, B, to be moved, and when the arm, 0, has reached a substantially horizontal position the lever, C, will have been given the extent of its movement and the rod, B, will have moved the switch rail to the desired position at the same time the hook 20 will have engaged one of the projecting jaw pieces, El, and will thus lock the alligator jaws, which will by its connections lock the switch. It is apparent that the length of the movement of the rod, B, will depend upon the position of the block, B, in the lever, C, and as before stated that position may be adjusted and regulated by inserting or removing the plates, D. The shaft, L, also carries a cam-disk, R, to which are secured the rods S and T. The rod, S, being pivotally connected to the lock bolt, U, and the rod, T, to the lock bolt, V. The positions, of the attachments of said rods, S and T, to the cam-disk, R, being such that during the rotation of the cammisk, B, one of the bolts, V, will be forced forward, while the other bolt, U, will be drawn backward from the lock-box, VJ. The position of the cam-disk, R, on the shaft, L, and the location of the connections between the rods, S and T, therewith, are such that the roller, P, on the arm, 0, will reach the pit or pocket, h, in the jaws, H, when the bolts V and U are each out of connection with the locking-plate, X, hereinafter to be described.

The lock-box, N, is provided with a groove, w, extending therethrough, within which the locking-plate, X, reciprccates. I have arranged two passageways through the box, from side to side, for the lock-bolts, V and U, respectively, and within the lockingplate, X, are two openings, X, X in ditl'erent planes, through which said bolts, Vand U, may pass, respectively, in order to lock the plate within the box. The reason for placing in different planes the openings, X and in the plate, X, through which the bolts, U and V, pass for locking the switch points, is that when the handle lever is moved one of the bolts, U and V, will pass through one of the openings, X and X and lock the switch points in position. If the rod, B, should break when the handle lever is moved for the purpose of moving the switch points, the bolt U will strike the plate, X, instead of passing through the opening, X thereby preventing the throw of the handle lever and therefore preventing the movement of the signal, showing that, the switch oints have not been changed by the movement of the handle lever, and calling attention to. the fact that the rod B has not operated to move the switch points. The locking-plate, X, carries, or is attached to a rod,

:v, which is secured to the switch rails, and will be moved when the switch rails are ope erated.

For the purpose of operating the switch, the handle lever, M, is raised, and when it reaches a vertical position, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, it will have rotated the shaft, L, to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, in which the roller, P, coincides with the pocket, 7L, and the loch-bolts, U and V, are both out of engagement with the lockingplate, X, and the lever, C, is substantially at right angles to the shaft, L. Further movement of the handle lever, M, causes the rod, B, to move the switch rails, and when the handle lever has been placed in substantially a horizontal position on the opposite side of the shaft, L, from which it occupied when its movement began, the switch will have been thrown, and one of the lock bolts, U or V, will have passed through the locking plate, X, engaged with the opening in the lockbox, VE on the opposite side from which it entered. The switch movement will then have been made and locked. For the purpose o'l' holding the handle lever, M, in this locked position, I have a locking-frame, composed of a bar, 5, with end pieces, 6 and 7, preferably at right angles thereto, and bolts or other pivots, 8 and 9, by which the frame is also hinged to suitable supports, 10 and 11. On one side of the end piece, 7, I arrange a shoulder, 12, and on the opposite side of the end piece, 6, is a similar shoulder, 13. The frame is located between the handle lever, M, and the signal lever, N, and so adjusted that when the handle lever, M, is in a horizontal position, as shown in Fig 1, and the signal lever, N, is placed parallel and adjacent thereto, the handle lever will be beneath the shoulder, 12, and held there by tl 1e signal lever, N, engaging the side of the locking-frame, and cannot be removed until the signal lever has been thrown over and occupies a position beneath the shoulder, 13, at the opposite end of the lo cking frame V] hen the signal lever is thus rotated the wheel, n, attached thereto imparts rotary motion to the wires, m, m, attached at opposite sides to the periphery of said wheel. The wires, m, m, are connected to the semaphore, 14, suitably mounted in support, 15, well forward of the switch, and preferably on the opposite side of the track from that occupied by the switch and signal mechanism hereinbefore described.

The operation of my invention is follows: Vv hen the switch and signal mechanism is in the'positionillustrated in 1. the track is clear, the siding, 16, not being switched into the n iain track, 17 desired to switch the siding into the main track the signal lever, N, is rotated until it lies in substantially a horizontal position, pointing in the direction opposite to. that It being shown in Fig; 1. The semaphore is, by such action, raised to danger and the lockingframe is then moved away from contact with the handle lever, M, the shoulder, 13, engaging the signal lever, and the handle lever, M, is then rotated and by the movement of which the alligator jaws are operated by the roller, P, and the rod, B, is forced by the lever, C, which causes the movement of the switch rails, A. The same movement of the handle lever, M, unlocks the locking-plate, X, by removing lock bolt, V or U, from ongagement therewith. When the lever, II, is brought to a horizontal position, adjacent to the signal lever, N, the switch will have been made, and the locl ing-plate, X, secured within the lock-box, When it is desired to switch out the side track and place the switch and signal in the position that it occupied before the side track was connected with the main track, and which position is, as above stated, that shown in l ig. 1, it is 110w necessary to operate the switch before changing the signal, which stands at danger, because the locking-frame engages the signal lever, N, the shoulder, 13, resting upon it, and it being impossible to relieve it except by throwing the handle lever, M, which operates the switch. When this is done the frame is moved over the shoulder, 12, engaging the handle lever, M, and then the signal lever, N, is thrown to the position shown in Fig. 1 and the signal shows the track clear.

I have shown in the modified form of my invention, Fig. 5, a movement similar to that of the alligator jaws, arm 0 and roller, P, at the end thereof, in which the jaws are placed horizontally instead of vertically and the roller, 22, slides in a horizontal plane, engages the ends of the jaws and provides for an escapement in the movement of the bandle lever, substantially the same as that already described. In this modified form I attach to a projection on the shaft, L, or its equivalent, the end. of the handle lever, M, a link, 20, which is connected with the bar, 21. carrying preferably a roller, 22, projecting from said bar. ihe rod, B, is attached to one end of an alligator T crank, 23, which is fulcrumcd at 24, and which carries on one side the jaws, 25, which jaws have a pocket, 26, at their junction similar to the pocket, 71, in the alligator jaws, II. Tlfhejaws, 25, are placed in reference to the roller, 22, in such a manner that when the handle lever is in a horizontal position said roller engages the end of one of said jaws and as the handle lever is raised said roller is moved to engage the other of said jaws adjacent to said pocket, and a further movement of said handle lever causes said jaws, and the T crank of which they are a part to move. Said crank being rotated on a fulcrum and the rod caused to move said switch rail. In the first movement of said handle lever the plate,

R, to which are attached the links, T and S, secured to the locking bolts, V and U, re spectively, will be moved so as to withdraw one of said locking bolts, V, from the looking plate, X, while the roller, 22, is coming into engagement with the jaw opposite to that with which it was in contact at the commencement of the movement of the lever. This bolt will be withdrawn when the handle lever has been moved through an arc of about forty-five degrees (45). A further movement of the handle lever, of about ninety degrees (90) will operate the crank, 23, to which the rod, B, is attached and move the switch rail. I he continued movement of the handle lever from this position to the horizontal will force the other of the locking bolts, U, through the locking plate, X, when the operation is complete.

hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device for operating a railway switch; a handle lever; a means connected therewith for moving the switch rails when said handle lever is rotated; a signal lever; a semaphore; a means for connecting said semaphore with said signal lever; a locking frame mounted in connection with said levers, so arranged and connected up that when said levers are placed parallel to each other on one side of their fulcrum said handle lever cannot be moved until the signal lever has been thrown to its extreme position, and when said levers are placed parallel to each other on the otherside of their fulcrum, said signal lever cannot be moved until said handle lever has been operated.

2. In a device for operating a railway switch; switch rails; a rod connected therewith, adapted to operate the same; a lever connected with said rod; alligator jaws connected with said lever; a series of plates adapted to be placed in said lever for adjusting the position of said rod in connection therewith; a shaft; an arm attached thereto adapted to engage said alligator jaws; a handle lever on said shaft, substantially as described.

3. In a device for operating a railway switch; switch rails; a rod connected therewith, adapted to operate the same; a lever connected with said rod; alligator jaws connected with said lever; a series of plates adapted to be placed in said lever for adjusting the position of said rod in connection therewith; a shaft; an arm attached thereto adapted to engage said alligator jaws cam disks on said'shaft; rods attached to said cam disks; bolts pivoted to said rods, respectively 1 a lock-box through which said bolts pass; a handle lever secured to said shaft, substantially as described.

4. A switch stand comprising a rod-adapted to move the switch point; a handle lever for moving said rod; a signal operating lever;

each of said levers adapted to be placed parallel to the track, a means placed between said levers for locking and preventin the movement of the siwtch point until the signal lever has been moved and the extent of its movement reached and preventing the reverse movement of the signal lever until the switch point has been returned to its normal position.

5. A switch stand comprising a lever for moving the switch; a lever for moving the signal; said levers operating in a plane paral' lel to the track; a means for locking the switch points and a means for locking said levers, preventing the movement of the switch operating means during the movement and until the completion of the movement of the signal operating mechanism and then holding the signal mechanism locked until the mechanism for operating the switch has closed the same.

6. A switch stand comprising a lever; a means set in motion by said lever for operating the switch; a means for locking the switch points; a signal lever; a lock in operative connection with said levers, respectively; a means for causing said lock to positively hold the switch lever during the movement of the signal lever and to be released when the signal lever has reached the extent of its movement and thereby locl: the signal lever and hold it locked until the switch lever has moved the switch rail to the closed position.

7. The combination of a railway s "itch; a railway signal; a switch rail; a lever; a means set in motion by said lever for operating said 5 itch rail; a signal lever; a means controlled by said. signal lever for operating said signal; a rocking frame mounted in. operative connection with said levers; a shoulder on one side oi said roclring frame adapted to engage one of said levers; a shoulder on the other side of said rocking frame adapted to engage the other of said levers, substantially as described.

8. In a railway switch; a switch rail; a locking plate in connection with said switch rail; an operating rod connected with said switch rail; a lever connected with said rod; shaft; a cam disk mounted on said shaft; a means connected with said shaft for operating said switch lover; a means connected with said cam disl-z for locking and unlockin said locking plate.

9. In a railway switch; a switch rail; an operating rod. connc :ted there 'ith; a shaft; a lever on said shaft; means on said shaft for operating said rod, so arranged that when said lever is parallel to the track said switch is open or closed, depending upon the direction in which said lever lies in reference to said shaft; a locking plate connected vith said switch rail; a lock be in which said locking plate reciprocates; locking bolts; a

means connected with said shalt for operating said bolts, whereby when one of said bolts is projected the other is withdrawn from said plate. 7

10. A switch st nd comprising a hand lever which may be pl ced substantially parallel to the track when said switch is either opened or closed; a lever locking mechanism and mechanism for locking the switch points at each position of the switch.

11. A switch stand comprising a handle for moviig the switch; said handle being substantially parallel to the track when open and when closed; a means for moving the signal lever; locking mechanism and mechanism for locking the switch points.

in rail way switch; a switch rail; operatin g rod connected therewith; a lever connected. with said rod; a plate adapted to be placed in said lever to regulate the position of said rod in connection therewith; a shalt; a means on said shaft for operating said lever; a locking plate connected with said switch rail; locking bolts; a means connected with said shaft for operating said bolts, whereby when one of said bolts is projected the other is withdrawn from said p ate substantially as described.

13. The combination ol a railway switch; railway signal a means for moving the switch in either diree ion; a means [or moving the signal; a locking-plate connected with the switch rail; a locking-box in which said locking plate reciprocates; two locking bolts; openings in said box and plate in diil'erent planes; said locking bolts so cor; iected up that the movement of the switch in either direction will cause one or the other of sai l bolts to pass through said openings respectively in said locking-plate.

i l. In a r way switch; a switch rail; an operating rod connected therewith; a lever with which said rod is connected; a plate adapted to be placed in lever to regulate the position o'l' said rod in connection therewith.

15. In a raihvay switch; a lever; a se 'ies of plates adapted to be placed therein; an o; crating rod connected *ith said lever; the length of the justed by the number of said plates in said lever; a switch rail to which said rod is connectcd.

16. It switch stand comprising a handle lever; a si Ll lever; a loclrin device located between said levers 'l'or loclrin them in such a aann er th t one or said levers only can be moved a t' during the movement of one the other positively locked, and a means for loclrmg the switch points.

17. The combination of a switch rail; a switch stand; a rod connected with the point of said snitch rail; a locl'nig plate; a handle lever in said switch stand; means connected with said handle lever whereby the throw of throw of said rod being admama said handle lever through an arc of about one hundred and eighty degrees and placed substantially parallel to the track will unlock said plate, move said switch rail and lock said plate.

18. A switch stand comprising a switch handle lever; a signal lever; means set in motion by said switch handle lever l'or operating the switch; a means controlled by said switch lever for operating a signal; a rocking frame mounted in operative connection with said levers adapted to lock said levers, substantially as described. 19. A switch stand comprising a handle lever; a signal lever; a rocking lrame mounted in connection with said levers, so arranged and connected up that when said levers are placed parallel to each other on one side of their fulcrum said handle lever cannot be moved until the signal lever has been drawn to its extreme position and when said levers are placed parallel to each other, on the other side of their fulcrum, said signal lever cannot be moved until the switch rail has been moved to its closed position; with means for locking the switch points.

20. A switch stand comprising a handle lever; means connected therewith for moving the switch points; duplex means set in motion by said handle lever for locking the switch points; in combination with a means whereby when the points are locked in one position they cannot be locked in the reverse position without the completed movement of the switch point, and whereby the handle lever cannot make its completed movement without the locking takes place.

21. A switch stand comprising a handle lever; a signal lever; means for preventing the movement 01' said handle lever until the signal lever has made its completed movement and ior holding said signal leverlocked until said switch lever has made its complete movement in each direction; a device ior locking the switch points; a means for operating said device by the movement of said handle lever, whereby said points shall be positively locked until said handle lever has made its completed movement and said signal lever is liberated and again held positively in position until said handle lever has made its completed movement in the reverse direction and has liberated said signal lever.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HIRAM C. VYILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

FRANcIs B. HARRINGTON, FREDERICK W CAMERON. 

